Mention of the turnstiles on the piers made me rummage through my archive for the very tatty copy of a verse from a 60s spotter.
My brother was at Mosley Hall Grammer school in Cheadle and apart from being one of the original members of the Northern Aeroplane Preservation Society he was an active spotter (I never sucumbed to strain of the disease that is aviation). Mosely Hall even had a spotters club - I still have my brother's membership badge somewhere.
Anyway I thought you may like the little verse.
THE SPOTTER’S LAMENT
(To the tune ‘My Bonny lies over the ocean’)
My brother he flies an Electra
My uncle runs BOAC
My father’s the Airport Director
So I get on the terraces free
Chorus
Give back; give back Oh give back my shilling to me!
The author is recorded as B.E. and the verse was dated 7/10/64
My first flight was from Ringway to the Isle of Man in a BEA Viscount and although the new terminal was built we departed from the metal hangar alongside which in later days was used for cargo. The apron between was used by the Auster G-AGXN for pleasure trips - its nice to see that she is still in good shape at Popham.
Lots of fond memories spolit by not recognising the place these days - boy the place has grown.